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Three Takeaways: Manchester City defeat Real Madrid

By J.C. Gonzalez

Manchester City's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring his team's second goal in front of empty stands during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England on August 7, 2020. (Photo by Nick Potts / POOL / AFP) (Photo by NICK POTTS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring his team's second goal in front of empty stands during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England on August 7, 2020. (Photo by Nick Potts / POOL / AFP) (Photo by NICK POTTS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Although Manchester City were not clinical with their chances, they managed a 2-1 win over Real Madrid to book a place in the Champions League quarterfinals in Lisbon.

In the biggest match of Manchester City’s season so far, the team stepped up and took a 2-1 win against European giants Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium. Although it was anything but a comfortable win for City and their supporters, the team held its nerve and delivered to advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

City capitalized on two mistakes from Real Madrid, who made an uncharacteristic number of errors at the back. Raphaël Varane looked a different player without the experience and European pedigree of captain Sergio Ramos next to him as City claimed the biggest scalp in their European history.

1. Gabriel Jesus steps up again

After scoring in the first leg, the Brazilian delivered once again in at the business end with a goal and assist to ensure the Citizens’ spot in the last eight. Although there have been questions as to whether or not Jesus is fit to lead the City line in lieu of Sergio Agüero, he put in a massive shift tonight and really put his stamp on this tie. With Agüero rushing back to full fitness, Pep Guardiola will have huge questions for his team selection heading to Lisbon.

2. City reverse their history

For nearly the entirety of City’s recent success, they have always been bested by Europe’s traditional big boys and folded when the going gets tough. When Karim Benzema equalized to pull within one goal of forcing extra time and two of winning the tie outright, the stage was set for another “typical City” moment. Guardiola’s team is simply built with more steel, however, and they got the job done against Zinedine Zidane, who had never previously lost a Champions League knockout tie.

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3. Onto Lyon

In a surprising twist of good fortune, despite being drawn on the more difficult side of the bracket, Olympique Lyon held on to advance on away goals against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus, and the French outfit will face City in the quarterfinal. While this is a much easier draw, City would be foolish to underestimate this team, given the one-legged nature of the upcoming matches and the fact that City have been shocked by young, exciting, Ligue 1 sides in the past (Monaco). In the 2018-19 group stage, City lost to Lyon at the Etihad and managed just a point in the return fixture. Nevertheless, this is City’s best chance to go deep in this competition under Guardiola, and they must make the most of it.